Grave marker



July 7, 1936. El M WALTON 2,046,594

GRAVE MARKER Filed Feb. ll, 1935 'l ,fl'

Y l S l Z6 36] 37 INVENTOR j? /Z 2 f 4 /8 fagar M. Vl/a/fo/z l l BY Y. A f: MAWORNEY Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED STATE ATENT oriee 8 Claims.

This invention relates to grave markers and has for its principal object to provide a marker wherein the inscriptions, legends or ornamentations thereof are protected from the elements and remain clearly visible throughout the years.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a marker which can be readily and securely attached to a monolithic base that is preferably inset into the ground; to provide a marker which is not subject to corrosion or disintegration brought about by atmospheric conditions, soil acids and other ravaging effects to which markers are ordinarily subjected; and to provide a marker capable of withstanding mechanical shocks caused by rough handling during shipping or manufacture, or by a lawn mower or other device used in cemetery maintenance work around the marker.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a marker constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of parts of Y the marker shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the marker on the line 3 3, Fig. l. i

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on the line 4 4, Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary section particularly illustrating the formation and inlay of the inscription letters or characters of the marker.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of one of the anchoring devices employed in securing the marker to a base.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates a marker including a block o1` slab 2 constructed of a transparent material of high mechanical strength and having a low coeicient of expansion such as for example a borosilicate glass. While the slab 2 may be of any suitable shape, it is illustrated in the present instance as being of rectangular form and having a flat upper face 3, side and end faces 4 5 and 6-1, and a bottom face 8.

The upper edges 9 and the corners I0 of the slab are preferably bevelled or rounded as indicated at I I and the under face 8 is provided with a rectangular shaped recess I2 to provide an inset field or cite I3 on which the inscription or other legend is cut or engraved in any conventional manner such as for example by a sand (Cl. l-124.5)

blast. It will be noted that the letters I4 are cut reversely with respect to the bottom face 8, but when viewed from above through the flat upper face 3, they have the proper appearance. After the letters I4 have been engraved into the glass they are preferably inlaid or coated `with silver or similar leaf I5 as illustrated in Fig. 5 so as to promote a bright attractive character when viewed from above, as shown in Fig. l.

After the letters have been formed and inlaid the recess l2 is closed by a panel I6 of slightly smaller dimensions to provide space between the edges thereof for a weld or suitable cement such as used in the cementation of glass. The panel I6 is formed of the same material as the slab 2 so that it will be identical in appearance and have the same co-ecient of expansion. After the panel I6 has been inserted and cemented in the recess, the lettering or other inscription is hermetically sealed from moisture, dirt, or other elements that might have a corrosive effect 'upon the inlay of the characters.

When the panel is in position in the recess, the lower face I1 thereof lies flush with the plane of the bottom face 8 of the slab as shown in Fig. 3 to lie flatly against a suitable base or foundation I8 on which the marker is secured as later described.

Formed at the respective ends and extending upwardly from the lower face 8 of the marker are sockets I9 and 2U having their bottoms terminating short of the upper face 3 and having their walls roughened to retain deformable metal inserts 2| and 22 that are applied therein and have bores 23 for accommodating threaded studs 24 and 25.

The bores 23 in the inserts are of substantially smaller diameter than the studs so that when the studs are threaded therein the metal will be expanded outwardly into keying relation with the roughened surface of the sockets to securely anchor the studs therein.

Formed on the projecting ends of the studs 24 and 25 are ears 26 having apertured openings 2'! for attaching anchors 28 and 29 each including a shank 30 having a slotted upper end 3l to form spaced ears 32 and 33 to engage the respective sides of the ears 26. The ears 32 and 33 have openings 34 therein aligning with the openings 21 to pass a fastening device such as a Cotter pin 35 therethrough to hingedly connect the anchors with the studs. The depending end of the anchors have forked ends 36 and 3l to retain the anchors imbedded in the foundation I8.

After the panel I6 has been cemented in place and the anchors applied, the entire lower face of the marker is coated with a mineral paint 38 to provide a background for the letters I4, for ex-v ample, a black asphalt paint. This coating not only provides a background for the letters, but it also lends to the hermetic seal of the panel I5 and acts as a cushioning element between the marker and the base I8.

When the marker is to be installed, a pit is Y formed in the ground of sufficient size toY accommodate the base l8,which preferably extends beyond the side and end edges of the marker as shown` at 39 inFig. 3. The pit is then filled with concrete up to the depth of the marker from the surface of the ground, after which a layer of neat-kv cement 40 is applied over the upper vsurface thereof and levelled off to form a supporting face for the marker. The marker carrying the anchors is then applied over the base and the anchors are pushed into the soft cement until the lower face of .the marker is bedded into the layer of neat cement. Y

The. marker is then` adjusted to level' position and Vleft Yuntil .the cementfhas set. Dirt may then be lled in over the foundation up; to the edges of the `marker asv Yshown in Fig. i to complete the installation. Y

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a marker wherein the legends or `other insignia thereon are herr-netica'lly sealedfrom the elements and,` therefore, remainl clearly visible through the upper face of the marker.

Dueto the nature of the material from which the markeris constructed, it is not subject to breakage `or chipping caused by shocks or collision of a lawn mower therewith when cutting the grass in and around the marker. Since the marker is lconstructed of Water-proof, substantially nonporous` material, having a'low cfa-efficient of expansion, it is not subi-ect todeteriorating effects of moisture or temperature changes.

It is also apparent thatV after the concrete of the base is set, the marker is retained by the anchors tightly thereagainst so that it is impossible for moisture to enter thereunder. Y

What I claim Vand. desire to secure by letters Patent is:

1.. A marker including a block of boro-silicate glass having a recess in one face and provided with characters reversely engraved in the bottom of' said recess to be read through an opposite face of the block, metallic leaf material backing the engraved faces of said characters, a boro-silicate glass panel having the same .coheicient of expansion as the 'block for closing .said recess, means for hermetically sealing the panel into the recess, and a mineral coating-covering said recessed face of the block and said panel.

2. A marker including a block member of borosilicate glass havinga recess in one face, abo-rosilicate glass panel member having the same coeiiicient of expansion as the block for closing said recess, means for hermetically sealing the panel member in the recess, and a mineral cushioning material covering said recessed face of the block and said panel, one of said members having letters on a side thereof facing the other member.

3. In combination with a monolithic base, a Y

marker on said base including'a flat slab formed of boro-silicate glass and havinga recess in the lower face thereof to'form an inset letter site, a boro-silicate panel sealed in said recess, a min-V eral coating between the marker and said base, and anchoring devices hingedly connected to the slab adjacent the sideV of the recess and embedded `in said base.. Y Y

4. A marker including a'slabrhaving a socket in the base face thereof, a deformable metal insert in the socket, a stud threadedV into the insert and wedging the insert into the recess, ananchor, andmeans pivotally connecting the anchorV withY said stud. f Y Y 5.A A marker including a slab having a socket in thezbase face thereof, adeformable metal insert in the socket, a stud wedging the'insert into the socket and having an aperturedA ear projecting.

from said slab, an anchor' having an apertured end engaging .the ear, and a fastening devicerextending' through said apertures to4 hinge said an` ehor to said stud. i Y Y 6. A marker including a block of transparent material having a recess in its rear face to for-m a site' and having characters cut in said? site, a'

transparent panel filling the recess to cover the characters -out in` said site, means sealing the surrounded by a flat marginalA face yfor support on'said base,v a panel sealedin said recess-for covering said letter site, and fastening means projecting from said marginal face for engaging in said base.v Y 1 8. In combination with a monolithic base,-a marker on said base including a slab formedA of transparent material and having a recess in-its lower face surrounded by a flat marginal face for support on said base, apanel sealedV in said recess, lettering material in said recess visible through said slab and protected by said panel, fastening means projectingV from said marginal Yfac-e for anchoring the slab to said base, and acushioning material between said slab and base. Y f Y EDGAR M. WALTON. 

